Martin named president of Wilson Architects

Chris Martin, AIA, LEED AP, has been named president of Wilson Architects. Martin assumes the role of president from Bill Wilson, FAIA, who will become the firm's chair/CEO. Both will continue as active client- focused principals in the firm. "Bill has been an outstanding mentor and partner for more than 25 years, and becoming president of Wilson Architects is the natural evolution of that partnership," said Martin. "This role brings tremendous opportunity to grow our unique architectural approach and continue to provide our clients with creative and responsive designs." Wilson Architects was started in 1995 by Wilson, Martin and fellow partner Matt Leslie, and the firm has grown to include four new shareholders. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015, Wilson Architects provides clients with creativity and design excellence. The firm collaborates with college, university, and corporate clients to design buildings and spaces that transform institutions. With a portfolio of projects for the sciences, libraries and performing arts, Wilson Architects' expertise is in building partnerships with higher education clients to further their strategic initiatives and foster institutional growth. The firm provides strategic planning, programming, and design services to major research universities across the country, designing facilities for Vanderbilt University, University of Chicago, and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and for New England institutions such as Northeastern, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston University, and Harvard University. Wilson Architects is an international leader in the design of multidisciplinary science and engineering facilities, and has developed a specialty in material science and nanoscale research facilities. The firm's experience includes completed projects in Spain, Dublin, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as well as new projects underway at University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Rhode Island, and MIT in Cambridge, Mass. Wilson Architects' portfolio of corporate design projects includes a research facility for AstraZeneca in Waltham, Mass. and a new corporate headquarters for EF Education First in Cambridge, Mass. "Chris' leadership will take our practice to the next level as we continue to provide world-class, award-winning designs and programs for our clients," said Wilson. "Our long-standing professional relationship is built on trust and mutual admiration, and as chair/CEO, I look forward to working with him to expand the firm's design portfolio and grow our unique approach to architecture." Martin provides strong project leadership through his high standards for design excellence combined with 25 years of working closely with academic clients to make their visions possible. Effectively guiding the balance between project design and technical demands, he enjoys designing innovative environments that foster scientific discovery. An exceptional facilitator, he is recognized by his colleagues and throughout the industry for his high-level designs and creative direction. Martin graduated with a Master of Architecture from Tulane University School of Architecture in New Orleans, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Martin has received several prestigious design awards, including recent honor awards for both the Chevron Annex and the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.